After the bicycle was finally assembled, Kyousuke stopped Miyamizu Yotsuba, who was practically bouncing with excitement, ready to take it for a ride.
"Wait, sis! What are you doing? Don't tell me you want to ride it?" Yotsuba turned to ask, tilting her head.
Unlike her clueless sister Mitsuha, Yotsuba had already mastered riding a bike using her classmates' bicycles.
"I just want to make sure this thing's safe first. If the brakes fail, it's not like Itomori has any flying St. Bernard dogs to rescue you."
Kyousuke grinned, giving Yotsuba a gentle pat on the head.
Mitsuha's body didn't have the monster-level endurance his own did.
If the brakes really failed, there'd be no one to save her. He then turned to Teshigawara.
"Teshigawara, you're in charge of the test ride!"
There was no way Kyousuke was going to risk Mitsuha's body on a trial run.
What if she fell?
"Suuuure…" Teshigawara sighed and rubbed his buzzcut, reluctantly climbing onto the bicycle — which was, for some reason, wrapped in shiny pink foil paper.
After another round of fussing and checking, Kyousuke finally gave Yotsuba the green light to hop on her new ride.
Since it was getting a bit late to do any more farm work, Kyousuke had Teshigawara fetch some spare wooden boards and tools from his house.
He tied them onto the rear rack of the women's bike.
He remembered clearly — Yukino's house had a leaky roof.
He had noticed that the first time he visited, from the overabundance of buckets and the water-stained floors.
He'd been meaning to help her fix it for ages but always forgot.
Now was the perfect opportunity. The rainy season had technically just ended, but downpours could still surprise you any day.
So the group headed over to Yukino Yukari's house. As expected, she had dinner ready when they arrived.
It wasn't anything extravagant, but the ingredients were fresh, and everything tasted great.
"Yukino's cooking is amazing!" Yotsuba said loudly as she set her empty bowl down.
"And how does it compare to Mitsuha's?" Teshigawara smirked, leaning in after Yukino had stepped out of the room.
"Uhh…" Yotsuba hesitated, glancing at the kitchen where Yukino had gone, then over to her sister sipping barley tea beside her.
She let out a quiet sigh and declared:
"Of course, my sister's cooking is better!"
What else could she say? Her sister might be a bit of an airhead, but Yotsuba was loyal — she had to have her back.
"But why did Yukino-sensei eat so little?" Sayaka asked as she sat beside them.
"Probably to maintain her figure," Yotsuba replied, activating her brain with a sparkle in her eye. "I mean, she's so beautiful. Being a beauty takes effort, you know!"
"I see…" Sayaka mumbled, squeezing her own tummy.
'Good thing I'm still a middle schooler — no grown-up worries yet.'
"Alright, Teshigawara, you go fix the roof. Sayaka, take Yotsuba and go play nearby. I'll check if Yukino needs help with anything."
Kyousuke handed out tasks like a pro.
Fixing rooftops wasn't in his skillset anyway — much better to leave it to the heir of a construction company.
And it's not like he'd feel bad about bossing him around. Mitsuha had no problem ordering her Tokyo friends and underlings around.
Worst case, he could toss Teshigawara a few romance tips — maybe finally help him break the ice with Sayaka.
"I knew I'd get stuck with all the work," Teshigawara grumbled, standing up and heading out to the yard to grab the tools from the bike.
"Don't whine so much. If you've decided to do something, see it through cleanly and confidently. That's what it means to be a man," said Kyousuke, now switching into his "emotional guidance counselor" mode.
He'd long noticed that, probably from growing up around girls, Teshigawara could be a bit… soft.
"…."
Teshigawara wanted to retort with a "Yeah yeah, I know," but halfway through the thought, he realized even that was a complaint.
So instead, he zipped his mouth shut and made a swift escape.
"Are you really going to help out this time, sis? Don't try to force-feed Yukino again like last time!" Yotsuba warned suspiciously.
"Just go already," Kyousuke replied with an eye-roll.
He wasn't too worried about Yotsuba being bored, she was already thrilled about her new bike.
And with Sayaka around, he wouldn't be surprised if Sayaka ended up riding and Yotsuba got to ride pillion.
Honestly, it made perfect sense the two became friends.
———————————————————————
In the Kitchen
Used dishes sat in the sink. Yukino, rubber gloves on, was absentmindedly wiping them.
Every now and then, she turned slightly, sneaking glances toward the living room, waiting to see if Kyousuke would come.
Whenever their eyes met, she would instantly duck into a corner, flustered.
Her jet-black eyes shimmered like starlight, the bashful gleam in her gaze radiating a delicate beauty.
"Yukino, I'm here. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Kyousuke appeared at the kitchen door to find her like that.
"No, not at all~" Yukino shook her head.
Compared to the long months she'd already spent waiting, this was nothing.
In fact, just thinking about Kyousuke made the wait feel almost joyful — every moment filled with quiet hope.
After feeding her some of her own cooking, Kyousuke even helped wash the dishes.
When they stepped out of the kitchen, they saw exactly what Kyousuke had predicted: Sayaka was riding the tiny bike, Yotsuba on the back, the two of them squealing with laughter along the road by the train tracks.
Only two trains passed by daily, and otherwise the tracks were quiet and safe.
The sun was sinking low on the horizon when suddenly, it began to rain.
"Yotsuba! Hurry back, take cover!" Kyousuke shouted.
The rain had come out of nowhere, more like a sudden summer downpour than anything from the rainy season.
Teshigawara, still on the roof, was instantly soaked and started yelling in protest.
Kyousuke saw Yukino running with an umbrella to bring Yotsuba in, then went over to help Teshigawara get the tools down.
"So unlucky… I'm drenched. I'm heading home to change," Teshigawara grumbled, standing under the wooden veranda, water pouring from the eaves.
"Teshigawara, this is the perfect moment to recite:
'Don't mind the rain lashing the forest leaves — why not stroll and sing instead? A bamboo staff and straw sandals are better than a horse.'
'So what if I'm soaked? Let the mist and rain live with me for life.'
"See? Say it with some flair — like a real man."
Kyousuke, completely dry, sat cross-legged on a floor cushion, grinning at his wet friend.
He'd quoted the famous Su Shi poem in Japanese, knowing full well Teshigawara would get it.
Su Shi's poetry was popular in Japan — even the renowned haiku master Matsuo Bashō often drew inspiration from it.
"Oh, give me a break. I'm no poet. I just want a hot bath right now," Teshigawara snapped, not in the mood for literary nonsense.
"Sayaka, let's go."
Sayaka and Yotsuba, who had made it back before the downpour got too intense, were now in the bathroom with Yukino, toweling off their hair.
"They're here, they're here!" Sayaka came running out, her footsteps thudding loudly on the wooden floor.
"As a lady, you should walk more gracefully!" Teshigawara immediately seized the opportunity to scold her.
"Oh, come on! You're the one rushing me," Sayaka shot back as she slipped on her shoes.
"If we don't leave while the rain's stopped, we won't make it back tonight," Teshigawara said, already wheeling his bike over.
"If that happens, I'll just stay at Yukino-sensei's place," Sayaka mumbled, then leapt down from the porch and turned back with a cheerful wave.
"See you tomorrow, Mitsuha!"
Miyamizu Mitsuha's house was much closer than theirs, and in a town full of devoted neighbors, anyone could easily help walk her home.
Neither of them had any reason to worry about Mitsuha.
"Do you two want me to ask Uncle Tanabe to give you a ride?" Kyousuke offered.
Even though the town was a bit old-fashioned, there were still plenty of small trucks for transporting farm goods.
"No need! Teshigawara's bike will get us home in no time," Sayaka grinned as she hopped onto the back seat, wrapping her arms around his waist.
She turned to shout happily, "Yukino-sensei! We're off! See you tomorrow, Mitsuha! Don't forget to study for the music test!"
"See you tomorrow, Mitsuha," Teshigawara added before pedaling off into the distance.
Waving them off with a smile, Kyousuke couldn't help but chuckle.
Teshigawara hardly needed advice from him. Unlike unlucky guys like Kisaki and Onizuka, he already had someone he clearly liked who liked him back.
The two of them were practically textbook countryside romance: trains, sunsets, rain, a bicycle—every cliché checked off.
"Huh? Sayaka and Teshigawara already left?" Yukino stepped out barefoot.
"Yeah. They didn't want to get caught if it started raining again."
'SPLASH—'
Right as Kyousuke spoke, the overcast sky opened up once more, unleashing a torrent like a faucet had been turned on above them.
"Haha, hope those two don't catch a cold."
Despite the laughter, Kyousuke wasn't truly worried.
Teshigawara was tough, and Sayaka—though she acted a bit scatterbrained—helped out with farm work all the time.
She was healthy as could be.
A warm bath and dry clothes at home, and she'd be bouncing around again tomorrow like nothing happened.
Yukino stared into the rain, eyes fixed on the road as if trying to catch one last glimpse of the two departing figures.
But in that downpour, everything was veiled in a shimmering mist—hazy and dreamlike.
Even the telephone poles beside the railway looked like they were wavering, unsure of their place.
Then, quietly, she knelt down and picked up the kettle, refilling Kyousuke's empty cup.
Resting her elbows on the low table, she propped up her chin with both hands and gazed dreamily at him.
Feeling her stare, Kyousuke turned from the rain to look at her face, made even more delicate by the soft glow of the dim lights.
"Where's Yotsuba?" he asked with a gentle smile.
"I ran her a warm bath. She's in there now, soaking."
Yukino slowly scooted over, inch by inch, until she was right next to Kyousuke.
Rainy days were beautiful, but they seemed to drain the warmth from her body more quickly than usual.
It was strange—on rainy days before, just thinking about Hojou-kun filled her with a cozy warmth.
A cup of tea was all she needed to feel content. But now that he was right beside her, she found herself wanting to get even closer, to soak in the warmth directly from him.
To her, Hojou-kun sitting there by the doorframe looked like a sun—radiating a light and warmth she couldn't resist.
"Are you cold, Yukino-san?" Kyousuke asked, noticing her bare feet.
The faint veins beneath her pale skin stood out more in the chill, making his fingers itch to trace along them, to see where they led.
"A little," she murmured, head lowered, voice soft and sweet enough to melt hearts.
"Come here, lean on me," Kyousuke said, opening his arms slightly.
He wasn't the type to awkwardly suggest socks or sweaters. The room was warm enough—this wasn't about the temperature.
"Okay!" Yukino lifted her head with a beaming smile, her eyes lighting up with surprise and joy.
To her, it wasn't Mitsuha sitting there anymore—it was the divine Hojou-sama she'd seen in her dream.
Kyousuke adjusted his posture, letting her rest against his chest.
He was momentarily startled by the delicate sensation—she was so light, like a kitten curling up in his arms.
For a while, only the sound of raindrops tapping on puddles and Yotsuba's loud singing from the bath filled the air.
Her childish voice was cheerful and carefree. Kyousuke could tell she really loved bath time.
Maybe some of that joy came from being in Yukino Yukari's home.
Still, he couldn't quite place the tune she was singing and looked down at Yukino with a puzzled expression.
"It's The Musicians of the Mountain," Yukino said, catching his curious gaze. "♪ Climbing up the mountain, now I'm a musician~ ♫"
She turned to face him and hummed a few bars.
With her sweet voice, the simple children's song sounded even more innocent than Yotsuba's version.
Kyousuke looked down and saw her thick lashes, the tip of her nose, and just a glimpse of her soft, pink lips.
But the more he listened, the closer those lips seemed to draw. The song grew quieter, like a whisper meant only for his ears.
And then… the singing stopped.
Yukino had turned, now facing him directly. Her bob-cut hair fell slightly forward, covering part of her delicate face as she gazed up at him in silence.
Kyousuke reached out and cupped her cheek with one hand.
Her skin was smooth as fine jade, and the sudden warmth that surged beneath his fingers reminded him—not of mineral, but of the vibrant woman in front of him.
With his other arm, he gently pulled her back into his embrace.
"This isn't my body, Yukino," he whispered into her ear, his voice low and close.
"I know," she replied softly. "Hojou-kun is a god, after all. So… does that mean I'm your shrine maiden now?"
Just moments ago, she'd been bold, swept up by the mood and the sound of the rain.
Now, she'd turned into a bashful, blushing girl, trembling slightly from the warmth of his breath against her ear.
Her sensitive ears turned scarlet, like they might start dripping red.
'What was I thinking just now?!' If Kyousuke hadn't been holding her tightly, Yukino would've bolted straight into the rain to cool herself down.
"Me? A god?" Kyousuke blinked in surprise. It was only now that he realized how Yukino saw him. Then, the corners of his lips curled into a soft smile as he replied:
"No need for you to become a shrine maiden. We'll meet for real someday."
It wasn't that Kyousuke didn't want to just tell Yukino where he lived and have her come find him.
It was just… like the second time they switched bodies, when he'd wanted to mail some cute, trendy stationery to Miyamizu Mitsuha.
The moment a thought related to revealing his home address surfaced in his mind, it would vanish completely, as if erased by some invisible hand.
Only later would he remember he'd even had the idea in the first place.
In truth, he had long since figured out that the body-swapping between him and Mitsuha had nothing to do with the system.
The memory loss wasn't the system's doing either. If anything, the system wanted him to help girls fulfill their wishes—it would be eager to offer more support, not create complications like this.
So for such bizarre phenomena to occur, there had to be another force at work.
Yukino Yukari's head shot up at his words.
Something must have clicked in her mind, though she didn't dare believe it.
She just stared at him with those deep black eyes—eyes that seemed to hold a thousand untold secrets.